Erik Telford
Senior Vice President of Public Affairs
Erik Telford is the Senior Vice President of Public Affairs at the Commonwealth Foundation.
Erik is a senior public affairs and communications executive with more than 15 years of diverse experience across public policy, advocacy, and public affairs institutions. Before joining the Commonwealth Foundation, Erik served as the senior vice president at Stand Together Communications, the Koch network’s marketing and communications capability. Erik has also served as the president of the Franklin Center for Government & Public Integrity, a state-based watchdog journalism organization. And at Americans for Prosperity, he was the executive director of RightOnline (an initiative he founded) and the director of membership and online strategy. He is currently on the board of the American Commitment Foundation.
In 2013, Campaigns & Elections Magazine honored Erik as an “Advocacy Innovator” and in 2011 as a “Rising Star in American Politics.” Politics Online named him one of the “Top 10 Who Are Changing the World of Internet and Politics.”
Taxes & Economy
Who Pays Pennsylvania’s Personal Income Tax? Part II
Pennsylvania has a flat rate Personal Income Tax (PIT) of 3.07%, which is a fair and simple distribution of taxation. Yet some people are imprudently calling for a state-wide graduated…
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Read More: Who Pays Pennsylvania’s Personal Income Tax? Part II
Sheetz beer petition met with strong response
Topics on this page Sheetz…
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Tuition Tax: The Future Of Higher Education?
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Read More: Tuition Tax: The Future Of Higher Education?
Property owners could take hard pension punch in 2012-13
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Read More: Property owners could take hard pension punch in 2012-13Regulation
Is the Harley Handout Constitutional?
Governor Ed Rendell just announced $15.4 million in economic development assistance to renovate its York County factory and train workers. $14 million of the $15.4 million comes from Capital…
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Read More: Is the Harley Handout Constitutional?
Pennsylvania, U.S. must heed signs if they want to be competitive
Topics on this page PennsylvaniaUnited States…
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Read More: Pennsylvania, U.S. must heed signs if they want to be competitiveRegulation
SEPTA is Financially Sound?!
In a letter to the Philadelphia Inquirer, SEPTA general manager Joe Casey challenges our commentary in which we called for SEPTA to competitively contract routes…
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Read More: SEPTA is Financially Sound?!Education
Penn State Professor Feeling the (Metaphorical) Heat
Following the Commonwealth Foundation’s call for a legislative inquiry into use of tax dollars to stifle, rather than foster, scientific inquiry in the case of Penn State professor Michael…
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Read More: Penn State Professor Feeling the (Metaphorical) HeatTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvania’s Taxes Driving Residents Out
The Tax Foundation has a new Fiscal Fact on Pennsylvania’s tax system and its impact on inter-state migration. After profiling Pennsylvania’s tax climate (hint: it is…
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Read More: Pennsylvania’s Taxes Driving Residents OutGovernment Accountability
Spending Transparency & Accountability
There is a national movement to make government spending and finances accessible to taxpayers. Pennsylvania lags behind, but state lawmakers are moving toward greater transparency.
Fact Sheet
Read More: Spending Transparency & AccountabilityTaxes & Economy
The Minimum Wage Myth
As unemployment continues to rise and talk of a jobs stimulus circulates some are advocating for another increase in the minimum wage. But such a move would destroy jobs instead…
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Read More: The Minimum Wage MythTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvania Ranks Middle-of-the-Pack in Small Business Climate
The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council released their Small Business Survival Index 2009 on Tuesday. Pennsylvania ranks 27th on the Index (1 being the best state for small businesses). …
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Read More: Pennsylvania Ranks Middle-of-the-Pack in Small Business ClimatePublic Union Democracy
Update: Harley’s Union “Compromises”
Harley’s heavily unionized employees came to a “compromise” through a new contract that will likely keep the company in Pennsylvania. Union leaders said, although they are not satisfied with this…
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Read More: Update: Harley’s Union “Compromises”
Fill Out Our 2009 Survey and win a prize!
As Policy Blog readers, we value your opinion on how we can more effectively disseminate freedom, so please fill out our survey on how you value our services. One…
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Read More: Fill Out Our 2009 Survey and win a prize!State Budget
Pennsylvania’s Growing Revenue Shortfall
The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue released November revenue collections yesterday. Once again, the actual General Fund collections were somewhat below projections; $56 million (or 3%) for the month. The…
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Read More: Pennsylvania’s Growing Revenue Shortfall
Pa. one of the most regressive tax states
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Read More: Pa. one of the most regressive tax statesEducation
Pittsburgh Tuition Tax Podcast
Elizabeth Bryan and I discuss the proposed tuition tax in Pittsburgh in a podcast. Joining us for part of the conversation is Aaron Gross, a student…
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Read More: Pittsburgh Tuition Tax PodcastTaxes & Economy
Follow the Money on Climate Change “Research”
The Wall Street Journal today features a important read on what lies behind climate research, in the wake of the email…
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Read More: Follow the Money on Climate Change “Research”
CF Blog Roundup
Here are some recent Commonwealth Foundation mentions in the blogosphere. The Morning Call’s Capitol Ideas blog noted the Commonwealth Foundation taking issue with the Climate Change Advisory Committee…
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Read More: CF Blog Roundup